US fears Israel will strike on Iran

>> the u.s. is growing concerned about the iran/ israel situation. jeffr jeffrey, you have done reporting on that. a lot of this took off after david ignatious suggested that israel is moving closer to the red line of attack. we should point out that the israel ambassador was kbgoing to be here and jerusalem said that no one is supposed to talk about it right now because of the things written about it.

>> there are israelies talking about it

>> it's clear that israel is thinking about it differently, and it's the defense minister , he has been to the states and the head of musad meeting with the republican committees and they are saying we are serious, we have different red lines and we see a window opening.

>> but, remember, and this is not to say that it not going to happen, but remember, we have been through this for a year and a half or more, i wrote about a year ago that it seemed likely that they were going to do it. i maintain that it's likely they will do it but things happen. we had, after that bump, we had the virus that crippled the centri centrifuges so things can happen. i do not think that the prime minister of israel has decide what had to do yet. i could not think a decision has been made. the biggest issue, the biggest thing holding them back is not the technical issue, it not can we destroy anything, it's how the americans will react.

>> that is why there were so many meeting here in washington, and there are willflevels and levels.

>> and there were meetings in telaviv

>> there's a point that israel is trying to drag us into it by suggesting that they are prepared to do it and the other point is that there's pressure being built by the israel and american suggestions by what leon panetta said, for europe to be tougher on sanctions and tougher on china. what is happening is that china is buying less oil from iran and that is putting pressure and saudi is moving in.

>> the question is, you can flip and say, israel is saying we will do this so you do not have to.

>> we will do your dirty work .

>> we will do what needs to be done and you do not have to.

>> there could be tremendous fall out for the u.s.

>> let me point out clapper's testimony that the united states is more vulnerable to attack because of the alleged plot against ambassador of saudi arabia on american soil, right here in fact at a favorite water watering hole. it that israel is better defended against an iranian counter attack than the united states because of our far flung diplomats and embassies.

>> this is the difficult thing. for israel and the united states . the u.s. has interests in afghanistan and iraq, for get, put aside what they can do here. if israel does this, the question is, how much warning will they give the u.s. so the u.s. can will they give the u.s., so the u.s. can harden what they need harden.